Last updated: April 2023
The Sustainable Kazakhstan Research Institute (SKRI) at Narxoz University has developed "phytocapture," an innovative solution to deal with airborne dust. A phytocapture barrier is a chain of green spaces around a plant or mine, precisely calculated in height and width, to capture dust and organic compounds from production. This solution can capture 40% of particulate matter, including fine particulate matter, which otherwise settle in people's lungs, causing pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. (1,6) To demonstrate the solution's applicability, SKRI proposed a phytobarrier project to AK Altynalmas JSC for the Aksu Goldmine. The Aksu field was founded in 1939, and soon the miners' settlement was formed around it. The formation of the tailings pond is closely connected with the production process, which began in 1951 and until now is produced by feeding through the pulp line the pulp from the gold concentration plant of the mill. The existing measures to reduce the negative impacts of tailing management facilities, such as irrigation of technological roads of the tailing management facility, as well as compliance with the above-ground stockpiles in the sections, do not fully solve this problem (5). To tackle this issue, the proposed phytocapture project utilized 3D computer modelling and digital technology to design a vegetation barrier near the tailing dump on both sides and resulted in the plantation of 1,400 seedlings of elm, silver sucker, and maple at a distance of 1.5 kilometers. The project was implemented at two production sites of the company in 2022 and is also being implemented in other projects. In 2022, the joint project was recognized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) as a best practice (1,6).
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 3)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Green corridors and green belts
Key challenges
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving physical health
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
The project's main objective was to develop an innovative solution to deal with airborne dust and support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, the project aimed to:
1. Proposing a vegetation barrier design near the goldmines based on studying dust dispersion and removal
2. Planting the most effective plant species at the required distance by using digital technology
3. Reduce air pollution and prevent the maximum amount of particulate matter from entering the air with tree plantation
4. Create a 3D model of green spaces and analyze the efficiency of dust phytocapture
5. Prevent particulate matter, including fine particulate matter, from settling in people's lungs, causing pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.
6. Demonstrates that manufacturing companies can use digital technological solutions to improve their environmental performance.
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Implementation activities
In 2020, the scientists at the Sustainable Kazakhstan Research Institute (SKRI) of Narxoz University proposed a phytocapture-barrier project to AK Altynalmas, a gold mining company in Kazakhstan. It focused on dust dispersion and removal by proposing a vegetation barrier design near the tailing dump on both sides using digital technology (Ref. 8). The project was designed with due regard to the plants’ capability to purify the air by filtration of pollutants. The project was developed for the the Aksu goldmines located in Northern Kazakhstan on two sides of the Kvartsitka tailing facility- the west and east sides. The first stage involved the research and development team studying the deposit's EIA design to select the most effective phyto-barrier sites. The selected site was surveyed, and data was collected on natural and artificial obstacles, wind patterns, pollutants emitted from the tailing facility, etc. In the second stage, the Envi-Met software was used to process the collected data and determine the most suitable plant species, optimum distances between plants, and effective barrier length for the west and east sides. The computer modelling recommended planting trees every 3 meters or less for optimal phytocapture. In the third stage, 1,400 elm, silver sucker, and maple seedlings were planted to form the phyto-barriers. Interim results showed that the closer the trees are to the source of dust, the higher the efficiency of phytocapture and the technology will reduce air pollution from one of the mine tailings by approximately 40%.The maximum effectiveness of the phyto-barriers will be in a few years when the young plants grow and create their microclimate to delay dust flows from production sites. (2, 3, 4, 5)
Main beneficiaries
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Researchers/university
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was developed at the Aksu Goldmines owned by AK Altynalmas JSC. The initial scoping, 3D Modelling, research consultancy and implementation services were provided by the scientists of the Sustainable Kazakhstan Research Institute (SKRI) at Narxoz University (Document: 1, 2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Blue Screen. (2022). Narxoz University has developed the technology of phytocapture barriers. Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
2. Blue Screen. (2022). How to plant a tree digitally. Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
3. DKN World News. (2022). 3D modeling solved the issue of phytocapture of dust - an eco-project in the Akmola region. Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
4. 716 KZ Informational Portal. (2022). Seedlings were planted in the Akmola region using digital technologies. Available at: https://716.kz/news/18213-Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
5. JSC AK Altynalmas. (2022). 3D Modelling Solved the issue of Phytocapture Dust- An Ecoproject in the Akmola Region. (Youtube). Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
6. Brendan Duprey. (2022). Phytocature Global Applications. (Youtube). Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
7. Narxoz University. (2023). Narxoz University: Vegetative barriers can reduce air pollution by as much as 40%. Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 9, 2023)
8. Duprey B. and Sharifi H. (2022) Phyto Capture Modeling Over Kvartsitka Tailing Storage Facility Using Envi-Met Software. Narxoz University, SKRI.
2. Blue Screen. (2022). How to plant a tree digitally. Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
3. DKN World News. (2022). 3D modeling solved the issue of phytocapture of dust - an eco-project in the Akmola region. Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
4. 716 KZ Informational Portal. (2022). Seedlings were planted in the Akmola region using digital technologies. Available at: https://716.kz/news/18213-Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
5. JSC AK Altynalmas. (2022). 3D Modelling Solved the issue of Phytocapture Dust- An Ecoproject in the Akmola Region. (Youtube). Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
6. Brendan Duprey. (2022). Phytocature Global Applications. (Youtube). Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 5, 2023)
7. Narxoz University. (2023). Narxoz University: Vegetative barriers can reduce air pollution by as much as 40%. Available at: Source link (Accessed: March 9, 2023)
8. Duprey B. and Sharifi H. (2022) Phyto Capture Modeling Over Kvartsitka Tailing Storage Facility Using Envi-Met Software. Narxoz University, SKRI.
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 3)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 3)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 3)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 3)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 3)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Ref: 1)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Ref: 2)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 2)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 2)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 2)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 2)
Pollution Mitigation at Altynalmas Goldmines
Source: (Document: 2)
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the "NBS 2022" UNA Asian extension project funded by the Asia-Europe Foundation.